A British Columbia middle school teacher has been disciplined after bringing dry ice into a classroom and overseeing an experiment that ended in an explosion, frightening students and raising safety concerns.
David William Popoff, a Grade 6 teacher in School District No. five (Southeast Kootenay), admitted to professional misconduct in a consent resolution agreement with the provincial teacher regulator.
The agreement outlines an incident in October 2024 in which Popoff brought dry ice to school without permission and demonstrated its use without protective equipment, including gloves or safety glasses. He handled the substance with his bare hands and put dry ice in his mouth during the demonstration.
The following day, Popoff repeated the activity with a group of Grade 6 and kindergarten students, again without protective gear. Students were allowed to handle the dry ice themselves and were divided into small groups with limited oversight, and Popoff at one point briefly left the classroom.
During the exercise, one student placed dry ice in a sealed water bottle, causing it to explode and shoot into a ceiling tile. Debris was scattered around the classroom, some students and an education assistant were splashed, and at least one student began crying.
Dry ice, a solid form of carbon dioxide, can cause frostbite on contact and requires protective equipment and proper ventilation when handled.
When later interviewed, Popoff downplayed the seriousness of the incident, blamed the student involved and said he would not change how he conducted the lesson, though he acknowledged he might feel differently if someone had been hurt.
The school district suspended Popoff for 10 days following the incident.
Under the agreement, Popoff will face a two-day suspension of his teaching certificate from June 17 to June 18, 2026. The commissioner said the penalty reflects the unsafe environment created in the classroom, a lack of regard for student safety and insufficient supervision during a potentially dangerous activity.
The disciplinary record will be posted on the public registry maintained by the B.C. Ministry of Education and Child Care.
